CORDLESS POWER TOOLS WITH A UNIVERSAL CONTROLLER AND TOOL AND BATTERY IDENTIFICATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld power tool, comprising:
- a power tool body;
an electric motor held in the power tool body;
a universal controller in the power tool body in communication with the electric motor, the universal controller having or being in communication with an electronic component that defines a tool type identifier in the power tool body; and
a battery pack releasably attachable to the power tool body, the battery pack having an on-board electronic identifier,wherein the universal controller has a plurality of different operational control modes for a plurality of different tool types and a plurality of different battery packs with different battery characteristics, and wherein the controller automatically selects an appropriate control mode based on the tool type identifier and the battery pack identifier.
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Abstract
A controller in a cordless power tool is configured to electronically read an identifier (e.g., a battery characterizing resistor) in a battery and identify the battery characteristics that is being powered. The controller can also define the suitable performance or output parameters of the tool for an identified tool type using a defined electronic library or menu of different tool types that is correlated to associated operational profiles.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A handheld power tool, comprising:
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a power tool body; an electric motor held in the power tool body; a universal controller in the power tool body in communication with the electric motor, the universal controller having or being in communication with an electronic component that defines a tool type identifier in the power tool body; and a battery pack releasably attachable to the power tool body, the battery pack having an on-board electronic identifier, wherein the universal controller has a plurality of different operational control modes for a plurality of different tool types and a plurality of different battery packs with different battery characteristics, and wherein the controller automatically selects an appropriate control mode based on the tool type identifier and the battery pack identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A trigger switch for a cordless power tool, comprising:
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a plurality of terminal inputs configured, during use, to be in electrical communication with terminal inputs on a rechargeable battery pack, wherein at least one of the terminal inputs is configured to be in communication with a tool type electronic identification component; and a universal controller in communication with the terminal inputs, the universal controller configured to electronically identify a tool type of a power tool using the tool type identification component, then select one of a plurality of pre-programmed operational modes based on the identified tool type. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of assembling a cordless power tool, comprising:
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providing a battery pack useable with a plurality of different power tool types, the battery pack having an on-board identifier that defines battery characteristics; providing a power tool controller useable with a plurality of different power tool types, the controller having a plurality of defined operational modes for different tool types; allowing an assembler to place an electronic, tool type identifier on a control interface switch that is electronically associated with a defined tool type; and electronically selecting an operational mode for the power tool controller based on the tool identifier and the battery pack identifier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification